Laser-scanning microscope system

Abstract

A condition-setting apparatus improves the flexibility of examination. The condition-setting apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a prescan image and a region-specifying section configured to specify at least one region to be irradiated with a laser beam on a prescan screen displaying the prescan image. When a region is specified by the region-specifying section, the display unit displays the specified region and the order of the laser beam irradiation on the prescan image.

1 . A condition-setting apparatus configured to set laser irradiation conditions suitable for examination and included in a laser-scanning microscope having a scanning optical system for scanning, which is configured to irradiate a scanning laser beam on a specimen so as to obtain an image of the specimen, and a scanning optical system for stimulation, which is configured to irradiate a stimulation laser beam on the specimen so as to stimulate the specimen, the condition-setting apparatus comprising: 
 a display unit configured to display a prescan image; and    a region-specifying section configured to specify at least one region to be irradiated with at least one of the scanning laser beam and the stimulation laser beam on a prescan image screen displaying the prescan image,    wherein, when at least one region is specified by the region-specifying section, the display unit displays the specified region and the order of laser beam irradiation on the prescan image screen.    
   
   
       2 . The condition-setting apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the region-specifying section includes a stimulation-region specifying section configured to specify at least one stimulation region to be irradiated with the stimulation laser beam on the prescan screen, and    wherein, when the stimulation region is specified by the stimulation-region specifying section, the display unit displays the stimulation region and the stimulation order on the prescan image screen.    
   
   
       3 . The condition-setting apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the region-specifying section includes a scanning-region specifying section configured to specify at least one scanning region to be irradiated with the scanning laser beam on the prescan screen, and    wherein, when the scanning region is specified by the scanning-specifying section, the display unit displays the scanning region and the scanning order on the prescan image screen.    
   
   
       4 . The condition-setting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an irradiation-order changing unit configured to change the irradiation order of the at least one region to be irradiated with at least one of the scanning laser beam and the stimulation laser beam.    
   
   
       5 . The condition-setting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the region is one of a spot, a line, and a two-dimensional area.  
   
   
       6 . A scanning laser microscope system comprising: 
 a scanning laser microscope; and    a condition-setting apparatus configured to set laser irradiation conditions suitable for examination with the scanning laser microscope,    wherein the scanning laser microscope includes 
 a scanning optical system for imaging, which is configured to irradiate a scanning laser beam on a specimen so as to obtain an image of the specimen, and  
 a scanning optical system for stimulation, which is configured to irradiate a stimulation laser beam on the specimen so as to stimulate-the specimen,  
   wherein the condition-setting apparatus includes 
 a display unit configured to display a prescan image,  
 a scanning-region specifying section configured to specify at least one scanning region to be irradiated with the scanning laser beam on a prescan screen displaying the prescan image, and  
 a stimulation-region specifying section configured to specify at least one stimulation region to be irradiated with the stimulation laser beam on the prescan screen,  
   wherein, when scanning region is specified by the scanning-region specifying section, the display unit displays the scanning region on the prescan screen and displays the scanning order close to the displayed scanning region, and    wherein, when stimulation region is specified by the stimulation-region specifying section, the display unit displays the stimulation region on the prescan screen and displays the stimulating order close to the displayed stimulation region.    
   
   
       7 . The scanning laser microscope system according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a first detection unit configured to detect fluorescence generated at the specimen by the stimulation laser beam.    
   
   
       8 . The scanning laser microscope system according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a second detection unit configured to detect a minute electrical current generated at the specimen by the stimulation laser beam.